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Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
TOM WILSON
NEW AND NATIONAL PARKS IN ATLANTA The impending arrival of spring finds most of us looking for outdoor things to do. It’s lucky, then, that Atlanta is home to three national parks – two in particular are steeped in history – plus two new parks. BY CAROL CARTER AND DANIELA CINTRON
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
Walk in the footsteps of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. in the park that bears
his name. Visit his birth home and sit in a pew at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. King, his father and grandfather all preached. Just across the street, you may attend services at the modern Ebenezer where the pastor is U.S. Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock. www.nps.gov/malu
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
SCOTT WHITE
Travel a bit north of the city and revisit the American Civil War at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Highlights include a preserved battlefield where 5,000 Americans died, three monuments and four stone markers. In addition to the history, you may hike, go horseback riding, have a picnic, go birding or visit the museum. www.nps.gov/kemo
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Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park DISCOVERATLANTA.COM
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Three million people, give or take a few, visit the Chattahoochee River
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area annually. With its 48 miles of river, the area includes five boat launches and ramps, 12 picnic areas, three fishing docks, three multiuse trails plus hiking trails. Animal residents include 25 species of amphibians, 168 species of birds and 41 species of reptiles. One popular activity here is “shooting the ‘hooch,” which is how locals describe floating down the river on a raft. www.nps.gov/chat
SCOTT WHITE
Atlanta’s three national parks are the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.